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About this unit

Criminal justice is a complex structure, and this unit of study provides a thorough introduction to its aims and functions, from the perspective of law enforcement.

Delivered online by Open Universities Australia, in partnership with Griffith University, the unit starts off with the general principles behind criminal law, including the concept of criminal responsibility and the rights of suspects.

The unit will then guide you through the scope of policing responsibilities and the limits of police powers, so that you understand the parameters of criminal investigations.

Once you understand the boundaries of criminal law, you will be better able to source evidence for use in criminal trials. The court system is covered in detail, from pre-trial processes to eventual punishment and possible appeal. The course is conducted with a focus on the Queensland system, but general principles apply nationally.

Eligibility

You cannot enrol in this unit if you have completed the following unit or its academic equivalent:

The Law of Crime

Areas of study

In this Police, Courts and Criminal Law unit, the topics you will study include:

Worried your online qualification won't be recognised? Think again..

How will this unit advance my career?

Completing this unit will count towards a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, through Curtin University. Studying this unit will also give you a greater insight into the procedures and laws involved in criminal investigations and the criminal justice system.

Once you complete this unit you will be able to:

Understand what criminal law is, and what its aims and functions are

Explain the elements of crimes, the classifications of offences and discuss criminal responsibility

Critically analyse what the impact of criminal law processes are on various parties and understand how alleged offences are investigated

Understand who the various people are within the criminal justice system and appreciate what their scope of power and ethical responsibilities are

How else will I benefit from this unit?

Upon successful completion of this unit you will receive credit for competencies in Police, Courts and Criminal Law from Griffith University.

Studying online means you can study where you want, at your own pace.

Gain industry-relevant skills and transferrable knowledge.

Government financial support through FEE-HELP or HECS-HELP is available.

Studying single units allows you the flexibility to work towards a qualification at your own pace.

Receive Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for this unit across a number of OUA’s full degree programs.

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Want more information about the career benefits of this unit? Fill out the enquiry form to the right and a study consultant will contact you with the details you need.

Financial assistance

If you are an Australian citizen you may be eligible to receive HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP for this unit, meaning you can defer payment of your fees.

Get more information

Want more information about financial and student support? Fill out the enquiry form to the right and a study consultant will contact you with the details you need.

You may be eligible to receive HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP for this course!

This course can be paid for through the HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP government loan schemes. If you are an Australian citizen or hold a permanent humanitarian visa, this means you don’t need to pay upfront.

Instead, the Australian government will pay your course fees on your behalf. You’ll begin repaying your loan through the tax system once you start earning more than the minimum threshold of $54,869 (2016-17 income year).

For two decades, Open Universities Australia (OUA) has partnered with leading Australian educators to make tertiary-level courses easier to access for people, no matter their background, their work status or their other life commitments. OUA has built up their reputation by making education more flexible, easier to tailor and available almost entirely online.

OUA's devotion to online education remains to this day, but where they once focused on higher education, today they offer the broadest set of post-secondary education and training programs in Australia.

Open Universities Australia offers a range of administrative and student support options. As a student of OUA you will have access to four hours of free expert tutoring support for each unit undertaken through the tutoring service SMARTHINKING. This on-demand service allows you to get fast, detailed feedback on your assignment drafts and gives you access to your tutor in real time.

The My OUA portal is an online student medium that allows you access to all your course and enrolment information as well as access to student forums and assessment tips.

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